For the first time since GOLF published its inaugural list of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S. in 1983, Pete Dye is not among us. The course design icon passed away in January of this year.
Yet his influence is strongly felt among the Top 100.
It’s here! GOLF’s 2020-21 ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S.
He leaves behind a litany of great layouts (six in the Top 100, four of which are in the Top 50) as well as numerous protégés. Without trying to simplify a complex topic, Dye imparted some key truths to all architects: Be on-site, get dirt under your nails and make it happen yourself.
Dye, along with his wife, Alice, did as much to shape modern architecture as anyone.
With a nod to Dye, here’s a look at how our 2020-21 ranking shakes out by designer.
Our Top 100 Courses in the U.S. broken down by architect
(Ed. note: Bestowing credit for courses built 100 or more years ago is a tricky assignment, because in many cases, many hands have played a role in a course’s evolution. Our approach here is to award primary credit for the original routing if it still serves as the backbone of today’s course and leave it at that. There are exceptions, such as when a course has had a major overhaul. Regardless, the courses listed under each designer are indicative of his vision and talent, though they don’t necessarily reflect every Top 100 course that he may have touched.)
A.W. Tillinghast (11)
15. Winged Foot (West)
Mamaroneck, N.Y., 1923
21. San Francisco
San Francisco, Calif., 1918
23. Somerset Hills
Bernardsville, N.J., 1918
30. Bethpage (Black)
Farmingdale, N.Y., 1935
39. Quaker Ridge
Scarsdale, N.Y., 1926
46. Winged Foot (East)
Mamaroneck, N.Y., 1923
69. Baltusrol (Lower)
Springfield, N.J., 1922
74. Ridgewood (W/E)
Paramus, N.J., 1929
75. Baltimore (Five Farms East)
Baltimore, 1926
84. Newport
Newport, R.I.
William F. Davis, 1899/A.W. Tillinghast, 1924
99. Baltusrol (Upper)
Springfield, N.J., 1922
Donald Ross (11)
11. Pinehurst (No. 2)
Pinehurst, N.C., 1907
20. Seminole
Juno Beach, Fla., 1929
33. Inverness
Toledo, Ohio
Donald Ross, 1919/Andrew Green, 2017
35. Oakland Hills (South)
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Donald Ross, 1917/Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1950
40. Oak Hill (East)
Pittsford, N.Y.
Donald Ross, 1921/Andrew Green, 2020
57. Plainfield
Plainfield, N.J., 1916
64. Essex County
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass, 1917
86. Glens Falls
Queensbury, N.Y., 1920
89. Aronimink
Newtown Square, Penn., 1928
90. Mountain Ridge
West Caldwell, N.J., 1929
92. Pinehurst (No. 4)
Pinehurst, N.C.
Donald Ross, 1919/Gil Hanse, 2017
Seth Raynor (8)
9. Fishers Island
Fishers Island, N.Y., 1926
14. Chicago
Wheaton, Ill.
C.B. Macdonald, 1895/Seth Raynor, 1923
24. Shoreacres
Lake Bluff, Ill., 1921
26. Camargo
Cincinnati, 1926
36. Sleepy Hollow
Scarborough, N.Y.
C.B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor, 1913/A.W. Tillinghast, 1929/Gil Hanse, 2017
47. Yeamans Hall
Hanahan, S.C., 1925
62. The Creek
Locust Valley, N.Y.
C.B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor, 1923
85. Monterey Peninsula (Dunes)
Pebble Beach, Calif.
Seth Raynor, 1924/Tom Fazio/Jackson Kahn, 2015
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw (7)
7. Sand Hills
Mullen, Neb., 1994
13. Friar’s Head
Baiting Hollow, N.Y., 2003
38. Bandon Trails
Bandon, Ore., 2005
52. Old Sandwich
Plymouth, Mass., 2004
77. Streamsong (Red)
Streamsong, Fla., 2012
80. Sheep Ranch
Bandon, Ore., 2020
91. Sand Valley (Sand Valley)
Nekoosa, Wis., 2017
Alister MacKenzie (7)
2. Cypress Point
Pebble Beach, Calif., 1928
6. Augusta National
Augusta, Ga.
Alister MacKenzie/Bobby Jones, 1933
16. Crystal Downs
Frankfort, Mich.
Alister MacKenzie/Perry Maxwell, 1932
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